The Big Task Force Launched After Trayvon Martin's Death Has Decided To Change Almost Nothinghttp://www.businessinsider.com/florida-stand-your-ground-laws-unchanged-2012-11/comments
en-usWed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500Sun, 02 Aug 2015 19:44:48 -0400Abby Rogershttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a58c46eab8ea404b000013Steve BakerThu, 15 Nov 2012 19:43:50 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a58c46eab8ea404b000013
@Arcbound: "As far as the attack goes, Zimmerman's account that his head was being hit on the sidewalk is contrary to the evidence according to one of the prosecutions investigator."
What would you expect the prosecution to say? Yes we acknowledge that his head was being hit on the sidewalk? Of course they would want to try and substantiate some claim that says otherwise. If they didnt then it would negate any way to prove that Trayvon was the victim and not the aggressor.
i agree with CD. We are formulating our own opinions based on the limited details presented to us but in reality NONE of us were there so therefore NONE of us should be condemning either one. They are both at fault for what transpired. It seems in this court of public opinion he has no case.
This is something he will have to live with for the rest of his life. We are the fortunate ones that can go about our day once this is over while he will continue to relive that night over and over and ....
I do find a big fault in this whole thing to be on the police investigation (or lack of at the start). If anything, the parents may be more angry at how it was handled more so than zimmerman himself. The loss of a child is something I would never wish upon another person no matter the situation. I do also feel that the "justice" the parents seek will never be to their liking because their child is still dead.
If they can actually see this as a tragic accident it wont make things any easier but it would at the very least put it into the right perspective instead of perpetuating the issues of race and violence.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a5231eeab8ea855f000001ArcboundThu, 15 Nov 2012 12:15:10 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a5231eeab8ea855f000001
The tapes only say "he's coming to check me out", and then he's running in the next 10 seconds or so. If I were worried about a potential criminal, when the man in question got to my car, I would have made sure to note the fact that "He's right outside my car now." I don't think Martin ever made it to the car, but that's neither here nor there. Zimmerman (later) claims he did, Martin's team said it didn't happen, so I guess we'll never know for sure. If Zimmerman would have said that he was at the car during his call, that wouldn't even be an issue, but at this point it's more of a "who are you more likely to believe" situation.
To me, and again, I guess this is my opinion that will be viewed by you as wrong, if a POLICE OPERATOR tells me I don't need to do something, I'm taking that as being told don't do that thing. But you are correct in that how I posted it was not the verbatim way it went down. If I could edit my posting, I would. There is no way Zimmerman was out to murder someone, I will agree with you there.
As far as the attack goes, Zimmerman's account that his head was being hit on the sidewalk is contrary to the evidence according to one of the prosecutions investigators. Again, it comes back down to who you are willing to believe. Do I believe Trayvon Martin became the aggressor? Yeah, I think so. But was it "for no reason", as the Zimmerman camp will have you believe, or was it because "he was being stalked", as the Martin camp will have you believe? Again, something we will never know for sure. I know if I were being followed by a strange man, I would not turn to fight him, but I also would not follow someone after the police advised me not too, especially when he is clearly on the run from me, for fear of that potential attack. I can understand any of the possibilities happening, they can all "make sense" if you put yourself in the mindset of the individuals involved, so it becomes hard to tell what actually happened past just taking someone's word for it.
I don't believe Zimmerman is a murderer, and I definitely don't believe this had anything to do with race. However, I do believe that Zimmerman should have stayed in his vehicle as advised, and I believe (well, know) that if he doesn't choose to pursue/follow/observe/however the heck you want to word it, that Martin would still be alive. Both parties were most likely at fault in this case. I believe that Zimmerman is guilty of negligent manslaughter. Call it the Corrupt Liberal Media all you want, but as a registered Republican, I find it laughable that my opinion has been tarnished by MSNBC or CNN or those other awful, awful channels.
@Bob:
Seeing as Zimmerman left his car to follow a fleeing Martin. I felt the word chase was appropriate, but seeing as it apparently has a negative connotation with it, if I could edit my post, I'd change it to followed or observed. As far as the 911 (which, he didn't actually call 911, he called the non-emergency number), I already addressed that. To me, and I'd hope to most people, if a police operator says they don't need you to do that, you really shouldn't do it.
I hope that explains my position further.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a51b0aecad04f83d000016Bob HonikerThu, 15 Nov 2012 11:40:42 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a51b0aecad04f83d000016
No evidence indicates that Zimmerman did any more than OBSERVE Martin. "Chase" is not an accurate statement.
911 never told Zimmerman not to follow Martin.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a518ce6bb3f7121c000010ChairborneThu, 15 Nov 2012 11:31:10 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a518ce6bb3f7121c000010
Read the post above for details on your bogus claims.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a516296bb3f7c41700000eAndrew WoodThu, 15 Nov 2012 11:19:53 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a516296bb3f7c41700000e
EXCELLENT news!!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a51538ecad04393500003bArcboundThu, 15 Nov 2012 11:15:52 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a51538ecad04393500003b
@Bob:
If I did make unsubstantiated claims, I apologize. I did my best to make sure things were accurate. I feel that I have a source for every claim I made that I didn't (in some way/shape/form) label as opinion. What did I say that is unsubstantiated? I will look into those claims and, if they were wrong, I'll be the first one back here to admit I made an error.
Thanks!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a5140869bedd831800000cChairborneThu, 15 Nov 2012 11:10:48 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a5140869bedd831800000c
" lets take a look at what transpired."
You got it all wrong. Lets take a look at what really transpired, not your poorly crafted distortions:
Zimmerman reports Martin because he was a neighborhood watch captain and Martin fit the CRIMINAL PROFILE of the young black males who were breaking into homes in Zimmermans neighborhood.
According to the audio tapes, Martin approached Zimmermans car with his hand in his pocket like he had a gun to intimidate,and only took off running after he saw that Zim was on the phone( He wanted to get away and ditch his weed he was carrying before the cops arrived)
The operator never told Zimmerman that he should not follow Martin only that "You dont have to do that" . Big difference.
Zimmerman follows Martin to keep him under observation to point out his whereabouts to the police when they arrive . (He was not trying to run him down and kill him as the bogus liberal slander states)
.Zim loses him and is returning to his truck when Martin attacks, sucker punching him flat on his back and getting on top of him slamming Zims head into a concrete sidewalk. Martin ends up dead when Zim finally uses his gun in desperation to save his own life, an act that is clearly self defense and protected by Floridas SYG law.
The Corrupt Liberal Media by omitting relevant facts and using totally one sided reporting, creates an anti Zimmerman hysteria and a National Lynch Mob that results in a political prosecution that railroads an innocent man.
Try to keep up.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a506db69bedd9e77000004Bob HonikerThu, 15 Nov 2012 10:14:35 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a506db69bedd9e77000004
You are making unsubstantiated claims, better check your sources.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a506636bb3f7477700000dBob HonikerThu, 15 Nov 2012 10:12:35 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a506636bb3f7477700000d
There was nothing wrong with the law as written.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a4ef4a69bedde13d000002CDThu, 15 Nov 2012 08:34:02 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a4ef4a69bedde13d000002
Really? Is that your expert opinion? Thanks, professor.
Your simplistic synopsis of the night's events are very much appreciated -- no conjecture present whatsoever.
Seeing as how reading comprehension is clearly not your strong suit, let me summarize my post in a single sentence: Let the justice system do its job.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a4d79decad04803e000016Black RageThu, 15 Nov 2012 06:53:01 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a4d79decad04803e000016
Among the AA community, they are very much against any vigilante action they are not the leaders of (they didnt mind lynching GZ, they didnt mind showing their hate for whites, they were more than willing to show how racist they are)!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a4d28269beddec6f000012Black RageThu, 15 Nov 2012 06:31:14 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a4d28269beddec6f000012
Simply becuase the persecutors in this state overcharge EVERYBODYhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a4929669bedd5963000001ArcboundThu, 15 Nov 2012 01:58:30 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a4929669bedd5963000001
CD, lets take a look at what transpired.
*Zimmerman sees Martin, a black kid, walking through the neighborhood. He then calls the non-emergency number to report "suspicious activity".
*Martin takes off running (perhaps noticing that a car is slowly observing him).
*Zimmerman gets out and gives chase.
*The operator tells Zimmerman that he shouldn't give chase.
*Zimmerman continues to chase. Martin ends up dead.
Martin was 6'0 and 160. I am 6'3 and 180, and I am not very intimidating at all. At 6 nothing and 160, Martin would not be what I would consider an intimidating figure. Down to opinion, sure, but he wouldn't intimidate me based on that description.
If Zimmerman doesn't get out of the car to chase Martin, or if he listens to the police operator and discontinues his case, Martin would be alive today. There was no reason for Zimmerman to give chase. Most rational people don't make it their own business to chase people around neighborhoods just because they "look suspicious".
At the very least, if you don't believe Zimmerman is guilty of negligent manslaugher (again, he had multiple instances to not initiate this. He may not have been the aggressor, we will never know that, but he definitely initiated things by choosing to follow, especially after being told not to), then you are guilty of the same cognitive dissonance that you are accusing others of.
Is Zimmerman a murderer? Not sure. Not enough evidence to show either way, IMO. I'll say "not guilty" (won't say innocent, but I'll say not guilty). As far as manslaughter, though? Very much guilty.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a480c2ecad04641c00000eCDThu, 15 Nov 2012 00:42:26 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a480c2ecad04641c00000e
Since no one seems to care about the point of the article, as it was just a thinly veiled reminder of Zimmerman's guilt anyway, I'll continue the derailment. I am absolutely mystified by much of the public's inability to divorce themselves from the idea that Zimmerman is a racist murderer.
From day 1, the media has distorted the facts of this story to portray it as a clear-cut hate crime, and despite being caught in several fabrications and distortions of reality (the above picture, for example), most of you idiots still seem to lap it up like anti-freeze at a petting zoo.
I know this is a radical notion for you mouth-breathers, but how about letting the justice system do it's job before condemning a man? It seems like everything that's come to light, after the initial propaganda circle-jerk, has been in accord with Zimmerman's account of what transpired that night. To respond to a specific concern from some of you, what gave you the impression that Zimmerman was brandishing his weapon before the physical altercation? <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" >http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a42846eab8eaf23d000009Steve BakerWed, 14 Nov 2012 18:24:54 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a42846eab8eaf23d000009
@David Herndon. However, using your example of Trayvon and George. Both would be considered standing their ground as neither one knew the intentions of the other. Both were aggressors in the eyes of the other so while the end result is one is dead. that does not negate Trayvon's participation in his own fate.
Accidents happen and both have as much an equal part in this situation.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a3e1686bb3f75a56000004David HerndonWed, 14 Nov 2012 13:22:32 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a3e1686bb3f75a56000004
Between Trayvon and Zimmerman, the person standing their ground was Trayvon and Zimmerman did kill him!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a3e0f8eab8ea9017000014I agree.Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:20:40 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a3e0f8eab8ea9017000014
Both Zimmerman and Marissa should be free. You are right. Clearly the law is not working as it should since the both are in the justice system (Marissa convicted and Zimmerman charged).http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a3e07aeab8ea1617000006Bodine WebWed, 14 Nov 2012 13:18:34 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a3e07aeab8ea1617000006
How does one stand their ground against the media ?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a3d9e7ecad040365000006MtVernonboiWed, 14 Nov 2012 12:50:31 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a3d9e7ecad040365000006
Florida is a racist state!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a3d747eab8ea4604000004MtVernonboiWed, 14 Nov 2012 12:39:19 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a3d747eab8ea4604000004
You're a stupid ignorant jerk! How do you know Trayvon is dangerous? Have you met him? Maybe Trayvon was trying to defend himself from this fat Zimmerman. I tell you, Florida is the most racist state in the UShttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a3ba5269bedd574e00000fJustice for MarissaWed, 14 Nov 2012 10:35:46 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a3ba5269bedd574e00000f
What about the woman who was sent to prison for 20 years for standing her ground against a husband who threatened to kill her?
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/11/marissa-alexander-sentenced_n_1510113.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" >http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/11/marissa-alexander-sentenced_n_1510113.html</a>
Why is justice easy to dole out to some but not others under the same law?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a3a6edeab8ea4315000008CyranoWed, 14 Nov 2012 09:13:01 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/50a3a6edeab8ea4315000008
Change the word Reform to change and you can let your bias come through a little less. Cheng Cheng's studies didn't dictate the difference between criminal homicides and justifiable killing due to assault. That's like saying it's morally superior to be raped and beaten by the side of the road than to be standing over the would-be dead rapist with a smoking gun. Hmmmmm. Me thinks there is something that stinks here.